It looks like the Ravens have connected with a couple late-round offensive draft picks.
Sixth-round wide receiver Darren Waller
and fifth-round tight end Nick Boyle both had perhaps their strongest practices of training camp Thursday in Philadelphia.
Both are showing that they could be more than projects this season. They could be targets.
Waller had three tightly-contested catches Thursday. One was a jump ball in the end zone and two others were on bombs down the sideline.
The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Waller went up high each time to make the plays. It’s what the Ravens have been looking for from the big-bodied Georgia Tech product.
“For Darren, it’s just being aggressive and going and making those catches,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said.
“Here’s a 240-pound guy out here in this heat – really all through camp – [who] pushes through and makes plays at the end of practice, which is pretty telling. I thought he took a big step out there today.”
Waller admitted there have been a lot of ups and downs during training camp, but said he feels he’s been steadily progressing.
It’s been a challenge, not only physically because of his size and high number of reps, but mentally. Waller only caught 51 passes during his three college seasons due to Georgia Tech’s run-heavy triple-option offense, so getting so many passes coming his way is new.
Waller said Thursday’s practice was one of the few where he’s finished strong in the two-minute offense and more game-like situations. He’s made plays here and there before, but he was featured in Philly.
“I feel like I’ve just got to be more consistent,” Waller said. “[Offensive Coordinator Marc] Trestman challenges me all the time. I’ll make a play, but every time I come back to the huddle, he’ll give me a high-five but say, ‘Let’s not live in your glory on this play, let’s get to the next one.’ There are a lot of guys that are holding me accountable to my skillset.”
Even with Thursday’s breakout day, Waller is still in the thick of a very competitive wide receiver race. Waller, Marlon Brown, Michael Campanaro, Kamar Aiken and Jeremy Butler are the main players in the mix for the likely four roster spots behind Steve Smith Sr. and Breshad Perriman.
“It’s crazy to think about,” Waller said. “They’re only keeping a certain number and I don’t know what that number is. There’s going to be a talented guy that’s not going to be on this team and it could definitely be me. I go out there with that on my mind every day and getting better.”
Boyle is another later-round pick who is catching eyeballs. He’s had an up-and-down couple days in Philadelphia.
On Wednesday, the Delaware product got stripped twice by Eagles defenders after they hacked at the ball as Boyle ran by. It happened again on Thursday.
The good news is Boyle has gotten a lot of passes thrown his way the past couple days. He followed up his subpar ball security with back-to-back catches during a two-minute drive drill, including one circus catch on third down on a pass thrown behind him.
“Case study would be today,” Harbaugh said. “That’s probably what you’d expect from a young guy. You just want to keep on the ledger of the good-play side [and have it] more outweigh the ledger of the not-so-good play side and turn that into production during the season.”
Like Waller, Boyle is coming from a college system that didn’t feed him many passes. He posted 37 catches for 304 yards and four touchdowns in his senior year.
Boyle will do most of his work on special teams and in the blocking game as a rookie. But the thickly-built 6-foot-4, 270-pounder has shown he can be more than a mauler.
When Boyle watches film, he compares himself to Crockett Gillmore, who spent much of his time blocking as a rookie but is now the Ravens’ starting tight end.
“I want to come out here and be a threat in the pass game and run block so you’re not pigeonholed,” Boyle said. “[You don’t want the opponent to say] ‘Oh, he’s coming in, it’s going to be zone or power.’ I want to go out for a pass and be a threat in the pass game, as well. I expect to do everything.”
It looks like the Ravens have connected with a couple late-round offensive draft picks.
Sixth-round wide receiver Darren Waller and fifth-round tight end Nick Boyle both had perhaps their strongest practices of training camp Thursday in Philadelphia.
Both are showing that they could be more than projects this season. They could be targets.
Waller had three tightly-contested catches Thursday. One was a jump ball in the end zone and two others were on bombs down the sideline.
The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Waller went up high each time to make the plays. It’s what the Ravens have been looking for from the big-bodied Georgia Tech product.
“For Darren, it’s just being aggressive and going and making those catches,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said.
“Here’s a 240-pound guy out here in this heat – really all through camp – [who] pushes through and makes plays at the end of practice, which is pretty telling. I thought he took a big step out there today.”
Waller admitted there have been a lot of ups and downs during training camp, but said he feels he’s been steadily progressing.
It’s been a challenge, not only physically because of his size and high number of reps, but mentally. Waller only caught 51 passes during his three college seasons due to Georgia Tech’s run-heavy triple-option offense, so getting so many passes coming his way is new.
Waller said Thursday’s practice was one of the few where he’s finished strong in the two-minute offense and more game-like situations. He’s made plays here and there before, but he was featured in Philly.
“I feel like I’ve just got to be more consistent,” Waller said. “[Offensive Coordinator Marc] Trestman challenges me all the time. I’ll make a play, but every time I come back to the huddle, he’ll give me a high-five but say, ‘Let’s not live in your glory on this play, let’s get to the next one.’ There are a lot of guys that are holding me accountable to my skillset.”
Even with Thursday’s breakout day, Waller is still in the thick of a very competitive wide receiver race. Waller, Marlon Brown, Michael Campanaro, Kamar Aiken and Jeremy Butler are the main players in the mix for the likely four roster spots behind Steve Smith Sr. and Breshad Perriman.
“It’s crazy to think about,” Waller said. “They’re only keeping a certain number and I don’t know what that number is. There’s going to be a talented guy that’s not going to be on this team and it could definitely be me. I go out there with that on my mind every day and getting better.”
Boyle is another later-round pick who is catching eyeballs. He’s had an up-and-down couple days in Philadelphia.
On Wednesday, the Delaware product got stripped twice by Eagles defenders after they hacked at the ball as Boyle ran by. It happened again on Thursday.
The good news is Boyle has gotten a lot of passes thrown his way the past couple days. He followed up his subpar ball security with back-to-back catches during a two-minute drive drill, including one circus catch on third down on a pass thrown behind him.
“Case study would be today,” Harbaugh said. “That’s probably what you’d expect from a young guy. You just want to keep on the ledger of the good-play side [and have it] more outweigh the ledger of the not-so-good play side and turn that into production during the season.”
Like Waller, Boyle is coming from a college system that didn’t feed him many passes. He posted 37 catches for 304 yards and four touchdowns in his senior year.
Boyle will do most of his work on special teams and in the blocking game as a rookie. But the thickly-built 6-foot-4, 270-pounder has shown he can be more than a mauler.
When Boyle watches film, he compares himself to Crockett Gillmore, who spent much of his time blocking as a rookie but is now the Ravens’ starting tight end.
“I want to come out here and be a threat in the pass game and run block so you’re not pigeonholed,” Boyle said. “[You don’t want the opponent to say] ‘Oh, he’s coming in, it’s going to be zone or power.’ I want to go out for a pass and be a threat in the pass game, as well. I expect to do everything.”
